Louisville vs Syracuse NCAAF Week 1 Preview and Prediction September 3, 2022
Posted 2 years ago | Betting Previews and Predictions, NCAAF | 0 comments
Louisville vs Syracuse September 3 @ Syracuse NY
Opening Betting Odds
Spread: Louisville -3, Syracuse +3
Moneyline: Louisville -152, Syracuse +127
Total: 59.5
Preview
Louisville will enter this matchup as a slight road favorite, and the Cardinals lead the all time series 13-7. Since joining the ACC they have been even more dominant, winning seven of eight head to head. Last year the Orange lost by a score of 41-3 at Cardinal Stadium.
Neither team finished last year with a winning season, the Cardinals going 6-7 and the Orange finishing with a 5-7 record. The Orange were just 3-4 at home last season, but those four losses included two games decided by just three points. They lost 40-37 in overtime to #19 ranked Wake Forest, and lost 17-14 to Clemson.
Entering year seven of the Dino Babers era, there are high expectations that the Orange can at least make a bowl game. While this might be the most talented group Dino Babers has had at Syracuse, the schedule is also one of the most difficult he’s faced.
Louisville
- 6-7 overall in 2021
- 4-4 in the ACC in 2021
- 6-7 against the spread in 2021
Scott Satterfield could be on the hot seat early in 2022. While he was the ACC Coach of the Year in 2019, it’s been a downhill slide since. A frustrated fan base was calling for his head before AD Vince Tyra decided to bring him back for a fourth season. A few days later Tyra resigned.
This has people speculating that Satterfield is on the shortest of proverbial leashes. He may have an ace up his sleeve though with one of the more talented returning quarterbacks in the country. Malik Cunningham threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2021, and ran for over 1,000 yards and 20 more.
The defense was well below average last season, allowing 27 points per game (76th nationally). They do have a solid group of linebackers with All ACC second team selection Yasir Abdullah, Monty Montgomery coming back from injury and Ole Miss transfer MoMo Sanogo (former four-star recruit).
The secondary is loaded with experience, and Satterfield brought in six players via the transfer portal to bolster their depth. Improvements appear likely given the personnel that DC Bryan Brown has to work with.
Syracuse
- 5-7 overall in 2021
- 2-6 overall in the ACC in 2021
- 8-4 against the spread in 2021
The Orange certainly have their share of skilled players, including All American running back Sean Tucker, and dual-threat quarterback Garrett Schrader. The pair combined to rush for 2,277 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2021. As good as they were on the ground, they were one of the worst in the country in the passing game.
Syracuse ranked 121st nationally averaging just 158 passing yards per game, and they scored just 24.9 points per game which had them ranked 91st. Unless vast improvements are made on the offensive line and in the receiving corps, you can expect the passing game to continue to struggle.
On the defensive side of the ball the outlook is perhaps more promising, with eight starters returning. Mikel Jones, Marlowe Wax and Stefon Thompson give the orange one of the ACC’s best linebacker trios. They also beefed up the secondary with key transfers Alijah Clark and Bradyn Oliver.
Relevant Trends
- The Orange are 5-1 ATS in their last six home games.
- The Orange are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games overall.
- The Orange are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 conference games.
- The home team is 5-0 ATS in the last five meetings.
- The under is 4-1 in the Orange last five home games.
Prediction: Louisville 28 – Syracuse 27
The Orange lost six of eight games in the ACC last year, but it’s noteworthy that they played close games at home against some of the top teams in the ACC. This being a revenge spot for Syracuse after being blown out at Louisville last year, it makes for an attractive play on the home underdog.
If you want to see who our experts are picking for this, and any other Week 1 matchup, be sure to have a look at our NCAAF premium picks page.
